Nitidulinae

Latreille, 1802

sap beetles

Tribe Guides

Nitidulinae is a of small beetles within the Nitidulidae, commonly known as sap beetles. The subfamily contains approximately 110 and at least 70 described , though taxonomic revision is ongoing. Members are primarily associated with fungal substrates, particularly large-bodied Basidiomycetes, and exhibit diverse feeding habits including phallalophagy in some lineages. The group has been subject to recent phylogenetic study focusing on body convexity as a morphological trait and -use patterns.

Lobiopa insularis by no rights reserved, uploaded by Kahio Tiberio Mazon. Used under a CC0 license.

Cyllodini by (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Nitidulinae: /nɪˌtɪduːˈlaɪniː/

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Images

Distribution

Worldwide distribution with documented records from North America (southwestern United States), Central America (Nicaragua, Honduras, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Trinidad), South America (Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Guyana, Venezuela, Peru), Asia (Laos, Vietnam, China, Okinawa), Indonesia (Sulawesi, Borneo), Australia, New Zealand, and southern Africa.

Host Associations

Basidiomycetes - primary Most members associated with large-bodied Basidiomycetes, particularly in the tribe Cyllodini
Phallales - obligate Most of the Oxycnemus group restricted to this fungal order
flowers - Camptodes occurs on flowers and develops in rotten vegetation

Similar Taxa

Nitidulidae (other subfamilies)Nitidulinae is distinguished within Nitidulidae by phylogenetic relationships and morphological characters including specific patterns of body convexity; other lack the derived convexity forms and phallalophagous associations found in some Nitidulinae lineages